Murray Praises Biden Picks for HHS Secretary and Other Key Health Roles, Calls for Swift, Fair Consideration of Nominees

Murray on Becerra for HHS: “Xavier Becerra’s long record of fighting for patients makes him an excellent choice to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.”

Murray on slate of COVID-related personnel announcements: “This selection of strong candidates for key roles on his COVID-19 team shows that President-elect Biden understands the urgency of getting our response to this pandemic back on track after the Trump Administration’s constant missteps.”

Murray: “Given the importance of making sure the incoming Administration has its team in place to tackle the COVID-19 crisis on day one, I will be doing everything I can to make sure these qualified, experienced nominees receive swift, fair consideration. During this incredibly painful time, peoples’ lives and livelihoods depend on the Biden-Harris Administration being able to hit the ground running on day one.”

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statements in response to President-elect Biden announcing his nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and naming several other individuals to serve in key health roles in his Administration related to the COVID-19 response.

In response to President-elect Biden announcing California Attorney General Xavier Becerra as his nominee to lead HHS as Secretary, Senator Murray said:

“I’m pleased President-elect Biden has put forward an experienced nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services who will follow the science and prioritize public health in a way the current Administration has utterly failed to do. Xavier Becerra’s long record of fighting for patients makes him an excellent choice to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.

“After four years of the Trump Administration putting politics first and threatening families’ health care at every turn—Xavier Becerra represents a much-needed change of course. As Attorney General of California he has led the charge against some of President Trump’s most damaging health care attacks and against drug companies behind the opioid epidemic that has devastated so many lives. He has also worked to fight for justice in health care by defending the health and welfare of migrant children in our government’s care and establishing an office focused on addressing inequity in public health. Before that, he served in Congress where he was a reliable champion for quality, affordable health care and reproductive rights. Attorney General Becerra is also the son of immigrants and a first generation college student who would make history as our nation’s first Latino Secretary of Health and Human Services.

“Xavier Becerra is a highly qualified nominee, and I will be pushing for a swift, fair confirmation so we can get to work on the serious health issues our nation faces—including not just the current threat of COVID-19, but also longstanding challenges like making sure health care is a right— not a privilege — for all Americans, lowering health care costs, addressing the systemic racism that is hurting communities of color across the country, and so much more.”

Senator Murray also responded to President-elect Biden announcing Dr. Vivek Murthy as his nominee to serve as Surgeon General, Dr. Rochelle Walensky as his Director for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith as Chair of the COVID-19 Equity Task Force, Jeff Zients as his White House COVID-19 Coordinator, Natalie Quillian as Deputy National Coordinator of the COVID-19 Response Team, and that Dr. Anthony Fauci would be Chief Medical Advisor to the President on COVID-19.

“This selection of strong candidates for key roles on his COVID-19 team shows that President-elect Biden understands the urgency of getting our response to this pandemic back on track after the Trump Administration’s constant missteps. Each one of these leaders is an experienced problem solver with a background that proves they are up to the challenge ahead—and together they present a formidable team with deep expertise in medicine, public health, and crisis management.

“I look forward to working with all the members of the incoming Biden-Harris Administration to finally address the challenges I have been pressing for action on for months, like: scaling up our production of PPE, expanding nationwide COVID-testing, developing and implementing a national plan for rapid, equitable distribution and administration of safe, effective vaccines at no cost, promoting vaccine confidence, addressing the health disparities that have made this crisis worse for communities of color, and more.

“Given the importance of making sure the incoming Administration has its team in place to tackle the COVID-19 crisis on day one, I will be doing everything I can to make sure these qualified, experienced nominees receive swift, fair consideration. During this incredibly painful time, peoples’ lives and livelihoods depend on the Biden-Harris Administration being able to hit the ground running on day one.”

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